The MREA IT User Group's mission is to bring co-op IT professionals together to learn and share information. This group recurrently discusses issues from billing software and smart grid, to utility social networking concepts, to identity theft—Just to name a few. The invited presenters and round-table discussions have proven helpful to attendees. So helpful, in fact, the once-annual event has blossomed into a bi-annual meeting! Those of you who either bear the title of the Information Technology Manager, those who have just assumed these responsibilities over the years as well as employees in the co-op engineering and operations departments will want to attend this one-day meeting.

Who Should Attend

The person who bears the title of Information Technology Manager and/or the person who wears the IT hat by default will want to attend. Some topics may also be of interest to employees in the co-ops engineering & operations department.

Agenda

9:00Welcome & Introductions (coffee and continental breakfast @ 8:30)

9:15Transforming the Co-op Business with Technology – Ron Schmitz, Director of Information Systems at Great River Energy

Ron will discuss how electric cooperatives are using technology to transform how they provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. His presentation will provide an overview on enabling software and telecommunications technologies. He will also share examples of how electric cooperatives are applying data science to the information originating from newer technologies like AMI.

10:00Small Business Cyber Security –Mark Eich, Principal in charge of Information Security Services Group at CliftonLarsonAllen

11:00Break

11:15Cynythia Tsu, NRECA – Cynthia will update us on electric utility cyber security at the national level and listen to the group share needs and feedback for NRECA’s Business Technologies Strategies (BTS) unit through table topics / roundtable discussion.